Local Knights of Columbus Council receives international recognition

Local Knights of Columbus were recently recognized by the Supreme office of the KofC with the McGivney Award for recruitment of new Knights. The award is named for the founder of the Knights of Columbus, Fr. Michael J. McGivney in 1888.

Knights of Columbus Council 5542, serving Mammoth, San Manuel and Oracle, is Father McGivney award winner. Named after the organization’s founder, Father Michael J. McGivney, the award is given in recognition of outstanding membership recruitment and retention efforts during the 2012-2013 fraternal year.

The announcement was made by the Knights of Columbus international headquarters located in New Haven, Connecticut.

District Deputy Drew Mansager presented the engraved plaque at the regular business meeting January 8.

Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, president of the international organization, is recognizing the local winner, said, “Please accept my sincere congratulations on attaining this prestigious award. The dedication to the Order shown by your council is seen in the high standard of excellence you have achieved. At the same time, I encourage you to carry forward this enthusiasm to meet the challenges that will face the Knights of Columbus in the years ahead. May this award be a reminder and an inspiration to the members of your council to continue to promote the ideals of Columbianism for the good of the Church, your community and the Order.”

In accepting the award, last year’s head of the council, Grand Knight Johnnie Seballos said, “Receiving this award is quite an honor. We’re very pleased with this accomplishment.”

The Knights of Columbus is the world’s larges Catholic lay organization. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, their communities, families and young people. With more than 1.8 million members in more than 14,000 councils around the world, the Knights of Columbus annually donated over $167 million and 70 million hours of service to charitable causes. Please visit www.kofc.org for more information.